Process of treating yarn



Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE SAMUEL P. RUFF, 33.; OF BOWLING GREEN, NETHER IPBOVIDE'NCE TOIN'NSHIIP, -IPIF. 'NN--v SYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ABERIFOYLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF GHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA rnocnss or TREATING YARN No Drawing.

This invention relates to the process of treating yarn which is used commercially for knitting and the like.

Before knitting yarn into fabrics, the

5 yarn is, in most cases, treated by subjecting the same to the influence of oils, etc., which soften and condition the same. v

In this condition, the yarn is wound onto a cone, spool or other package, and delivered 'to the knitter for knitting into fabrics.

In any room or department where numerous persons are employed there is likely to be at certain times of the years, a prevalence of coughs, colds, etc., leading to sickness, with the consequent loss of time by the employee which results in loss of wages to him and additional cost to the manufacturer. This cost can be reduced by a preventive measure. p

When a yarn manufacturer or processor has sold yarn to the knitter, its identity oftentimes becomes lost, when mixed with the yarns purchased from other concerns, and, therefore, it becomes a problem to determine from which manufacturer or processor the particular yarn was purchased. This is particularly true where uncolored yarns are processed and sold and are then dyed by the knitter.

This invention has for its object the treatment of yarn so as to improve the health conditions in the knitting mill, and to provide the yarn with a positive means'of identification, even after the same has passed from the hands of the knitter.

Yarn, before being wound onto the package, in which form the same is sold, is usually treated forconditioning and softening the same with an emulsion consistin of pure water (aqua), vegetable oil, ,suc for instance, as cocoanut oil and soap. The finished package of yarn retains a ercentage of the emulsion, which is large y evaporated during the knitting process.

In my invention Iadd to the emulsion compound a proximatel 5% in volumeof pine oil, which is bene cial to the human respiratory system and acts as a preventivefor coughs, colds, etc.

In the ordinary practice, the treatment of Application filed January 13, 1980. Serial No. 420,598.

the yarn takes place as the same is being wound into packages and as a further step in my. invention, after the yarn has been treated with the emulsifying liquid consist- I ing of the aqua, vegetable oil, pine oil and soap, perfume of a distinctive odor is directed onto the yarn strand by means of an atomizer.

From a theoretical standpoint, the perfume might just as readily be added to the emulsifying liquid, but on account of the high cost of a distinctive and lingering perfume, I find that it is best to add the same with the atomizer, using approximately 2 c. c. of perfume to approximately 1 lbs. of yarn.

The price of this quantity of perfume is not prohibitive and answersall the for which it is intended.v

In the knitting of yarn in the fabric, the pine oil is thrown off into the atmosphere and provides a healthy condition for the workers, but the pine oil quickly evaporates purposes when freed from the wound package and by the time the garment has been kmtted, the

odor of pine oil' has almost entirely disap cared, but the perfume which has, as beore explained been directed by an atomlzer onto the yarn, gives off a pleasant odor which in the case of dyed yarn, it retaln'slong after it leaves the knitter and is placed on the retailers counter.

The purpose of using the perfume is twofold. First, it gives thegarment a dainty and clean odor which enhances sales and,

second, but most important, it provides a means of identification as to the source of the yarn used for said garment.

In knittin mills, yarns from different sources are 0 times confused and credit is often claimed of one concern for defective yarn when, as a matter of fact, the defective yarn may have been purchased from another concern.

The perfume which I use is one which is distinctive and can be purchased from the manufacturer by no other person or concorn. The yarn, therefore, can be definitely traced by the perfume which it exha'les. As

an example, some yarns are purchased in undyed, but treated, condition and are then dyed by the knitter. If, for instance, the yarn does not dye properly, a sample of the knit fabric consisting of yarn as sold to the customer can then be scientifically dyed by the seller, so'that if the results obtained are good, it is at once-apparent that the fault has been with the knitter on acount of improper dyeing. If defective fabric should be returned to the seller he can at once determine by the distinctive odor Whether he did or did not sell the yarn contained in the fabric.

It, therefore, follows that the perfume I readily traced through the; various stages of the manufacture of the yarn into fabric can be positively identified at any time bythe seller of the same so that unjust claims for adjustments will be eliminated. While I have specified an improved process for conditioning and softening yarn, it will be at once apparent that various modifications and changes in the quantities of ingredients, point of introduction of the-various ingredients, etc., may be modified and changed in many ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and hereafter claimed.

. The invention is hereby claimed as fol- IOWSI A yarn package characterized by an identifying odor provided by an odoriferous compound evenly distributed throughout'the yarn strand.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SAMUEL P. RUFF, JR. 

